Cisco (Tullibee)

[DEADhead]

Anybody here target tullibee through the ice (other than in March)? I assume you fish for them in the same areas as whitefish and lake trout, in deep water along breaks, holes in large deep bays, etc. Is it worth fishing for these fish during the winter, or waiting until March/ice out? I'd like to catch some for the smoker.

[musky_tail05]

It's worth it! A haven't targeted ciscos specifically yet, but whenever they come through on the flasher, it's game time. The areas that I've caught them in have been in open water, right outside shoreline breaks where they spawn. I mainly use size 8 shrimpos (no meat) on an ultra-light setup with 3 pound test line. Small, shiney jigging spoons tipped with waxies also work. When you see them come in on the flasher, snap your baits very aggressively and try to get the whole school to chase the bait. Usually they'll get competetive and sooner or later one will slam your bait. So far I've caught four in the last two outings. Good Luck!

[DEADhead]

thanks for the vote of confidence. What time of day were you catching them? I heard that early morning is prime time, just like trout.

[musky_tail05]

I haven't caught them super early, more like mid-morning. Actually, the afternoon/evening has been the most productive timeframe for me. One of the first ones I caught this year was at 4:55 pm. Last December, I had a very brief afternoon feeding frenzy. I ended up catching 4 and loosing 3 more in only six minutes before the school moved on.

[shae1986]

Deadhead

Dont over look the shallow water areas early here in the season. They can be in that 10-15 ft area near deep water. I know that on Long Lake by Vergas people see them in the spear holes now and then. Be careful out there though i heard there isn't much ice.

[-Marc V-]

Hey DH,

Ended up catching quite a few of these couple days back. Probably 15-20 of 'em. The school would come in like crappies...what we orignally thought they were until we pulled one up through the hole.

We were in 22-23fow on a steep break down to 60-80ft. They would come through between 12 feet and 2 feet. Jigged one up site jigging since it was only 2ft down. Was swimming around 3 feet above my jig nipping at something. Soon after realized it was trying to eat my pink bobber stop. They really liked pink.

Caught most of them on a pink bodied ratso with a waxie.

The bite was hot from about 11am -1pm. Minute they showed up on the Vexilar, they'd be tapping the line. We left at 2pm.

Took a few of them home, and fried them up. They were good. Would have never eaten them, but had some whitefish out of Superior during deer hunting this year, and they were excellent. Believe cisco are part of that family, or closely related.

Good luck!

[DEADhead]

thanks marc. check your email.